Embalse La Mariposa, Water reservoir in Las Mayas, Venezuela.
Embalse La Mariposa is a large water reservoir located in Las Mayas near Caracas that collects water from Rio El Valle and its tributary streams. The water body sits at approximately 981 meters elevation and covers a substantial surface area.
Construction took place from 1946 to 1949 under presidents Isaias Medina Angarita and Romulo Gallegos to modernize Caracas water supply systems. An additional pumping system was established in 1957 to bring water from the Tuy River and supplement natural sources.
The reservoir hosted rowing competitions during the 1983 Pan American Games and continues to serve as a training site for national canoeing teams today. Visitors can observe athletes preparing for competitions and experience the venue's ongoing role in Venezuelan sports.
Water from this reservoir flows through a network of pumping stations to serve households and facilities across the Caracas region. The location is best visited with awareness of the surrounding infrastructure and the possibility of walking around the water's edge.
The pumping system continuously delivers substantial amounts of water into the reservoir, demonstrating the engineering effort required to supply a large city. This constant work remains invisible to many visitors yet directly supports the daily needs of Caracas residents.
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